Newcastle Knights defeat Manly Sea Eagles 26-22 in miracle golden point comeback win
The Knights were booed off the field by their own fans at half time. They went on to produce one of the most memorable wins in the club’s history with a golden point victory over the shellshocked Sea Eagles.
The Newcastle Knights have jagged one of the best victories in their club’s history, snatching a 26-22 golden point victory against Manly.
The game appeared over for Newcastle in the opening half, failing to score a point in the first-half again, only for the red-and-blue to notch 26 points in 40 minutes.
Manly’s opening few minutes went from hot to cold in a heartbeat, seemingly scoring a dazzling try through fill-in fullback Lehi Hopoate, only to lose the Tongan international for the game seconds later.
A bat-on from Luke Brooks to Ben Trbojevic saw the back-rower find Tolu Koula down the edge, the centre kicking back inside for Hopoate, only for the Bunker to find a bobble in the put down.
A head knock in the process ended the fullback’s night prematurely, but it was only a short-term reprieve for Newcastle before the next man up struck.
A quick shift to the right saw Reuben Garrick burn makeshift centre James Schiller, the Knight moved into the three-quarter line following Greg Marzhew’s late inclusion, before finding Koula on the inside the fly through for the opener.
Another strong run from ‘Burbo’ left the Knights scrambling, the six-point deficit doubling thanks to some crafty play from Lachlan Croker. The rake shot out of dummy-half, drawing the marker before sending Tof Sipley over for his eighth career four-pointer.
It was another slog of a first-half for the home side, failing to score a point in the opening stanza for the eighth time in 13 games this season.
The Sea Eagles bagged their third and final try of the half on the back of an electric Koula run, the third-string fullback breaking countless tackles before being dragged down centimetres short of the line.
A quick ball out to DCE gave the halfback time to hit Haumole Olakau’atu short on the right side, carrying defenders over the line to bring the lead out to 16.
A Phoenix Crossland error on half-time left home fans booing their side off for the first time in 2025, the zero on the scoreboard growing all to familiar for fans in the Hunter.
It wouldn’t take Newcastle long to bother the scoreboard attendant in the second-half though, a Kai Pearce-Paul break ending with Fletcher Sharpe bagging his ninth try of the season.
It was a double whammy for the Sea Eagles, conceding the try as well as losing Tommy Talau briefly to a HIA.
A shocking first-half for James Schiller saw the former Raider dragged back to the wing for the second stanza, and injecting rookie Fletcher Hunt into the centres in just his fourth NRL game.
The switch was a bold one from head coach Adam O’Brien, the mullet-clad youngster making seven errors last weekend against the Dragons.
It didn’t take long for the move to pay off though, Hunt bagging his first NRL try after swopping on a bomb, and the party didn’t end there.
A linebreak from Marzhew down the left edge handed Newcastle prime field position for the final tackle, a shift to the right paying dividends as Schiller summersaulted over to lock the scores at 16-16 with under a quarter of the game left.
The energy was zapped from the stadium again only moments later, a stunning tackle from Jack Cogger on a barnstorming Garrick denying the centre, only for Tommy Talau to stroll through the defence the next set.
The former Tiger caught the ball out wide, dancing back in-field and around defenders before bursting through to dot down under the sticks.
The solo stunner seemed enough to break Newcastle’s spirit, however a wonder-ball from Pearce-Paul threw the Knights right back into the contest.
The English import got an arm free on halfway to send Schiller down the sideline again, finding Sharpe once more to square it up at 22-all, and send it to golden point.
An end-to-end affair had both side’s fans nervous, although it was Fletcher Hunt that would elevate himself to cult status in the Hunter on the final play.
Unbelievable scenes in Newcastle as the Knights come from 16-0 down to win it 26-22 in golden point!!!
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A last tackle bomb from Ponga saw the winger fly through the air, tapping the ball back for Ponga to cross for his first try of the season, and hand Newcastle a famous victory.
The loss leaves the Sea Eagles on a roller coaster of form, having not notched a consecutive win or loss since Round 7.
It opens the door for the Knights to escape the bottom four, and slowly grind themselves back towards the top eight.
BOO TO WOO FOR NEWCASTLE FAITHFUL
The Knights are blessed with some of the most passionate fans in the NRL, however being booed off the park at half-time was a new low for their season.
Seven errors and a doughnut on the scoreboard saw Newcastle fans finally snap, and it kicked their side into gear.
Posting 16 points in as many minutes, Newcastle fans were cheering on their side in no time in a stunning turn for the side.
JURY OUT ON DCE DROPPING
All the talk around Cherry-Evans over the past week has swirled around his spot in the Maroons’ side, the Queensland captain tipped to miss out on Game II selection after a lacklustre series opener.
Similarly to Manly as a whole, DCE started strong against Newcastle, playing a role in two of his side’s three first-half tries, before losing his way in the second stanza.
A kick out on the full rattled the halfback, as did getting mowed down by a defender with the try line wide open.
There’s every chance DCE retains his spot for the must-win clash in Perth, it’d be un-Queensland to drop their captain, but stranger things have happened.
PEARCE-PAUL FIRES AS NEWCASTLE PONDER CALL
Newcastle seemed fine letting English edge forward Kai Pearce-Paul walk at season’s end on the back of Dylan Lucas’ stellar form, but this clash could have Newcastle pondering ‘what if’.
Pearce-Paul is reportedly set to join the Wests Tigers in 2026 on a lucrative multi-year deal, seemingly without much of a fight from the Knights to retain his services.
KPP set up both of Sharpe’s tries, and proved a constant threat on the right side all night, certainly enough to give Newcastle fans food for thought before the import finally jumps ship.
Originally published as Newcastle Knights defeat Manly Sea Eagles 26-22 in miracle golden point comeback win
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